It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a dog following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation works effectively remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
